Wednesday, January 25, 2017

UPSON
COUNTY'S EFFORT TO AID TORNADO VICTIMS IN SOUTH GEORGIA HAS
BEEN PICKING-UP .

CITY
OF THOMASTON EMPLOYEES TAKING DONATIONS UNTIL 6PM
WEDNESDAY AT THE PARKING LOT OF THE GREATEST GENERATION
MEMORIAL PARK AND ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT SUPERINTENDANT NEIL IVEY
SAYS HE HAS ADDED A 2ND TRAILER FOR DONATIONS AND IS
HEADED FOR ALBANY ON THURSDAY MORNING.

FORMER
COUNTY COMMISSIONER RUSTY BLACKSTON SAYS DONATIONS HAVE BEEN
SLOWER AT THE CIVIC CENTER FOR COOK COUNTY VICTIMS—BUT HE
PLANS ON PLACING ANOTHER TRAILER AT THE GREATEST GENERATION
PARK ON THURSDAY, AND DONATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED BOTH
PLACES---AT THE CIVIC CENTER AND THE PARK 9AM TILL 6PM
DAILY —TRUCKS LEAVING SATURDAY AT NOON FOR SOUTH GA.

ONE
OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE ALLMAN BROTHERS
BAND—DRUMMER--BUTCH TRUCKS HAS DIED IN FLORIDA AT AGE 69.

THE
MICK IN THE MORNING SHOW HAD INTERVIEWED BUTCH SEVERAL TIMES
AND THE ZOOM WILL BE REPLAYING BUTCH'S COMMENTS –
THIS WEEK--- 6 TO 10 IN THE MORNING AND ON --LUNCHING
WITH THE CLASSICS—NOON TO ONE -- AT 105-9/101-1.

Monday, January 23, 2017

EMA
DIRECTOR MARTHA ANN MCCARTY SAYS THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE WILL BE IN UPSON COUNTY MONDAY TO DETERMINE THE
CATAGORY OF TWO TORNADOS THAT HIT UPSON COUNTY SATURDAY
MORNING JUST AFTER 11AM.

ONE
ON HIGHWAY 36 WEST NEAR RIVERBEND RESTAURANT KNOCKED DOWN
TREES AND POWER LINES AND BLOCKED THE HIGHWAY.

ANOTHER
STORM HIT HIGHWAY 74 WEST BETWEEN SUNNYSIDE ROAD AND PICKARD
ROAD AND IT WAS BLOCKED BY TREES AND DOWNED POWER LINES.

SCATTERED
POWER OUTAGES RESULTED, BUT SHERIFF DAN KILGORE TOLD US NO
INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

DAMAGE
REPORTED AT THE RESIDENCE OF ROD AND KRISTIE PITTS ON
SUNNYSIDE ROAD, FALLEN TREES KNOCKED DOWN THE OVERHANG ON
THEIR HOUSE AND HEAVY DAMAGED THEIR PICK-UP TRUCK.

IN
THE SHADOWWOOD LANE AREA, MAGGIE GILBERT REPORTED SOME HOUSE
DAMAGE, AND ON PALLET MILL ROAD A GARAGE WAS DESTROYED.

IN
THE CITY OF THOMASTON, WEST MAIN STREET NEAR GREEN STREET
WAS BLOCKED WHEN POWER LINES FELL IN THE STREET AND A
TREE BLOCKED COUNTY ROAD NEAR BEAVER RUN TRACE.

THE
STORM CELL MOVED INTO LAMAR COUNTY AND A TORNADO WARNING
WAS ISSUED. DESPITE ROTATION ON RADAR LAMAR COUNTY SHERIFF
BRAD WHITE TALKED TO ZOOM NEWS LIVE ON THE AIR AND SAID
HE HAD NO REPORTS OF DAMAGE OR INJURIES.

STUDENTS
IN THE THOMASTON-UPSON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM WERE ALLOWED BUT
NOT MANDATED TO WATCH THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP , FRIDAY. IN A LETTER TO FACULTY MEMBERS ASSISTANT
SUPERINTENDANT DR. LARRY DERICO NOTED GA. PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS INCLUDE A GOVERNMENT/CIVICS THREAD SO THE EVENT WAS
AN INSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITY.

ANY
STUDENT WHO CHOSE NOT WATCH WAS ALLOWED TO OPT-OUT—DR.
DERICO SAID IN THE MEMO.

Friday, January 13, 2017

As an update to the incident at 536 Williams Mill Road on December 24, 2016. Pike County
Animal Control has received a growing amount of correspondence from the media and
individuals in the community with regards to this incident. Although we cannot release any
information on this case at this time due to the active investigation, we would like to assure the
community that we are continually pursing evidence that we hope will lead to the resolution of
this case and the prosecution of any individuals responsible for the violation of Pike County
Codes & Ordinances. If anyone in the community has information that is relevant to this case,
please contact Pike County Animal Control at 770-567-2007.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

“JUST GOT SNAPPED” the Griffin Police Department, United States Department of Agriculture- Office of Inspector General, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Lottery Commission conducted a joint operation in which search warrants and arrest warrants were served concerning EBT card fraud, Financial Transaction Card Fraud, Commercial Gambling and lottery violations at two local stores, Ma and Pa Grocery, located at 1137 Meriwether Street, Griffin Food Mart, located at 888 Meriwether Street and the residences of both owners of the stores.

The Griffin Police Department and the USDA-OIG, started the investigation in September of 2016 concerning the EBT card fraud at the two stores. As the investigation progressed, other criminal activity concerning the coin operated amusement machines (gambling machines) and the Georgia Lottery came to light and the GBI Commercial Gambling Unit and Georgia Lottery Commission were called and joined the investigation.

The four month investigation ended this morning when all of the participating departments came together and served the search and arrest warrants.

The following people were arrested:

Khalid Mirza of 1147 Meriwether Street, Griffin, Georgia, the owner of Ma and Pa Grocery was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), two counts of financial Transaction Card Fraud, three counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and four counts of keeping a Gambling Place.

Uzma Mirza of 1147 Meriwether Street, Griffin, Georgia was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), seven counts of Financial Transaction Card Fraud, eight counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and one count of Commercial Gambling and three counts of Transactions in Drug Related Objects.

Rajendra Oza of 319 Crossing Place, Griffin, Georgia, the owner of the Griffin Food Mart, was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), eight counts of Financial Transaction Card Fraud, one count of Financial Transaction Card Theft, eleven counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and two counts of Transactions in Drug Related Object“JUST GOT SNAPPED” the Griffin Police Department, United States Department of Agriculture- Office of Inspector General, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Lottery Commission conducted a joint operation in which search warrants and arrest warrants were served concerning EBT card fraud, Financial Transaction Card Fraud, Commercial Gambling and lottery violations at two local stores, Ma and Pa Grocery, located at 1137 Meriwether Street, Griffin Food Mart, located at 888 Meriwether Street and the residences of both owners of the stores.

The Griffin Police Department and the USDA-OIG, started the investigation in September of 2016 concerning the EBT card fraud at the two stores. As the investigation progressed, other criminal activity concerning the coin operated amusement machines (gambling machines) and the Georgia Lottery came to light and the GBI Commercial Gambling Unit and Georgia Lottery Commission were called and joined the investigation.

The four month investigation ended this morning when all of the participating departments came together and served the search and arrest warrants.

The following people were arrested:

Khalid Mirza of 1147 Meriwether Street, Griffin, Georgia, the owner of Ma and Pa Grocery was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), two counts of financial Transaction Card Fraud, three counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and four counts of keeping a Gambling Place.

Uzma Mirza of 1147 Meriwether Street, Griffin, Georgia was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), seven counts of Financial Transaction Card Fraud, eight counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and one count of Commercial Gambling and three counts of Transactions in Drug Related Objects.

Rajendra Oza of 319 Crossing Place, Griffin, Georgia, the owner of the Griffin Food Mart, was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), eight counts of Financial Transaction Card Fraud, one count of Financial Transaction Card Theft, eleven counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and two counts of Transactions in Drug Related Object

Monday, January 9, 2017

WHEN
AN UPSON COUNTY DEPUTY ARRIVED AT 121 HICKMON DRIVE—
SATURDAY THE LEFT SIDE OF A HOUSE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN
FLAMES—THE RESIDENCE OF THE EDWARD WALKER FAMILY. A 1993
TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WAS ALSO DESTROYED BY THE FIRE.

MR.
WALKER SAID A BEDROOM AND OFFICE CAUGHT FIRE POSSIBLY FROM
A SPACE HEATER IN THE OFFICE.

MR.
WALKER, HIS WIFE AND GRAND SON MANAGED TO ESCAPE WITHOUT
INJURY—AS THE FIRE SPREAD QUICKLY.

Friday, January 6, 2017

Gordon State College Community Education is offering a variety of courses to help you beat the winter doldrums ranging from computer basics to conversational French.

“You can teach your dog some manners, learn calligraphy, and even take a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden,” said Debbie Christian, program administrator, Gordon State College Community Education. “Our classes are varied with some offered in a classroom setting, some online and others at fun locations near campus. The classes are convenient, enriching and fun!”

3RD
DISTRICT GA. DOT SPOKES-PERSONS KIMBERLY LARSON TOLD ZOOM
NEWS FRIDAY NIGHT—TRUCKS HAD BEEN OUT ALL DAY FRIDAY--
SPREADING THE BRINE MIXTURE ON MAJOR ROADS IN THE
DISTRICT.

WHEN
A NEW SHIFT TOOK OVER AT 7PM FRIDAY THEY SWITCHED OVER
TO SALT IN RAIN HEAVY AREAS—AS IT WOULD MIX WITH RAIN
AND FORM BRINE.

COLD
RAIN COULD TURN TO SLEET AND THEN SNOW OVERNIGHT. SATURDAY
MORNING WIND CHILL TEMPS COULD BE BELOW 15 DEGREES.
SUNSHINE SATURDAY BUT NOT MUCH WARMUP. EVEN COLDER OVERNIGHT
SATURDAY, ACCORDING TO UPSON EMA.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

ACCORDING
TO THE UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT---A FIRE AT THE
RESIDENCE OF JEFFREY AND CARLENE ROGERS—1760 MINOR ROAD
DESTROYED A DETACHED GARAGE, WITH A SHOP, A TRUCK AND AN
UPSTAIRS FURNISHED APARTMENT—AND THERE WAS MINOR FIRE DAMAGE
TO THEIR HOME.

JEFFREY
ROGERS TOLD UPSON S.O. HE WAS WATCHING A BOWL GAME ON TV
FRIDAY NITE—WHEN HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION THAT SHOOK THE
HOUSE—AND NOTICED THE GARAGE WAS ON FIRE—A GARAGE
LINKED TO THE HOUSE BY A WALK-WAY.

WHEN
FIRE UNITS ARRIVED—THE COUPLE WAS REMOVING VALUABLES FROM
THE HOME—AND SOME AMMO STORED IN THE GARAGE WAS
GOING-OFF.

A
1992 CHEVROLET 1500 4 BY 4 TRUCK PARKED IN THE GARAGE WAS
DESTROYED ALONG WITH THE SHOP AND TOOLS.

ZOOM
NEWS WAS TOLD—THE EXPLOSION WAS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY THE
TRUCK CATCHING FIRE.

SALEM,
THURSTON, AND NORTHSIDE FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED. THE
STATE FIRE MARSHALL HAS BEEN CALLED-IN TO INVESTIGATE THE
CAUSE OF THE FIRE.